A Wedding in Springtime

Marriage Mart #1

by Amanda Forester

Her Timing Couldn't Be Worse...

Miss Eugenia Talbot's presentation to the queen is spoiled by a serious faux pas—the despicable William Grant made her laugh, right in front of Her Majesty. Now Eugenia is ruined and had better marry—someone, anyone—at once...

And His Couldn't Be Better...

Roguish William Grant has never taken anything seriously in his life. Until he meets Eugenia Talbot, who makes him feel and do thing he never thought he would.

Now Eugenia's great sense of humor and kindheartedness may be her undoing, unless William can help her find a husband. To his surprise, that's the last thing he wants to do...

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Regency, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Regency Romance

415 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Amanda Forester holds a PhD in clinical psychology and a Masters degree in theology. As a psychologist, she has worked as a clinical researcher and a university instructor (what they call you when they don’t want to give you tenure). None of which has anything to do with writing romance novels. After trying for many years to stop the internal storylines floating around her head, she finally gave up and wrote one down. Now when she is caught daydreaming and talking to herself she can just say, “I’m plotting a scene for my next novel,” which sounds so much better than, “I’m hallucinating and responding to internal stimuli.”

Amanda lives in the Pacific Northwest with her officer and a gentleman husband and their two remarkably active, naturally brilliant children. They share their home with two fiendishly destructive cats and one lazy dog.

The Highlander’s Series represents Amanda's first venture into writing historical fiction, so she would greatly enjoy hearing from readers.

Reviews

[Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very, very, did I mention very light read? I've recently read some novellas which I criticized as being too light and lacking of characterization because of their briefness. A Wedding in Springtime is a full-length novel that could easily have been a novella length book if it had only stuck with the main storyline. I found all the characters pleasant, but dull, and absolutely lacking in any sort of personality.

The plot was not much of a plot, and the main storyline is bogged down with ten million supporting cast, each with their own subplot (one of which I liked better than the main characters themselves), most of which bordered on the ridiculous. It's like three separate novellas crammed into one.

The summary was misleading. I had expected Eugenia to be a rational, well-meaning young woman who got pranked into laughing in the midst of her debut by a cruel rake who later learns his lesson. I was wrong. Eugenia is a fluffy, silly, bareheaded giggly chit who could barely stifle her laughter as she heard the Lord Chamberlain fart, and Mr. William Grant's wink merely sent her over the edge. He wasn't the main cause for her ruination during the ever-so-important debut.

Eugenia (Genie) and William are the two least memorable Regency romance characters I've read lately. In case I haven't said so before, they have zero personality, no complex characteristics that make the reader connect to them, no hint of anything that makes the reader feel that they have any depth. While it's true that most humans are relatively boring, this is a book. I don't read a book to read about normal characters that I could meet any day; I want a character with character, in a book in which I could lose myself. This book doesn't do it.

Genie is an idiot. If there's a Regency version of TSTL, she is its personification. William doesn't do much more than to moon over her and follow her addle-brained plots. The story with Jem, the urchin boy...you could hear me moaning a mile away, I could see what was coming.

The characters are all tropes; the well-intentioned but interfering aunt, the missish cousin, the overbearing dowager, the rakish and marriage-fearing friends. There's nothing here that I haven't read 1000x before. The additional cast members and the subplots...I would have thought the author was trying to set us up for her next book until the plotlines neatly tied up at the end. The overwhelming cast members and the ridiculous subplots meant this book, as light as it is, gave me more of a headache than it was worth.

[Kate · Rating 1 out of 5]

There was way too much going on in this book. Half of the chapters were dedicated to the couple from the next book and a mystery plot that involved a man who will be the hero of that book. The glimpses we DID get of this couple, therefore, were shallow and almost vapid. The hero seemed to be a bit of an idiot, and information was randomly and inconsistently dropped in about him. I found the "inspirational" bits of this book bizarre and random as well. And then there was the writing, which was both stiff and also curiously anachronistic for me. It all felt very rushed and unfinished and flat.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Wedding in Springtime
2 Stars

During her social debut, Miss Eugenia Talbot, commits the most egregious of faux pas when she laughs in the presence of the Queen. Her reputation in tatters, Genie must marry and quickly. Unrepentant rake, William Grant, the man responsible for Genie's predicament takes it upon himself to aid in the quest for a groom, However, it soon becomes clear to him that he desires the position for himself.

Despite the rather promising premise, A Wedding in Springtime falls completely flat mainly due to the fact that in addition to the plot outlined above, there are numerous additional storylines and a multitude of characters, none of which are sufficiently developed.

The author alternates between the primary romance between Genie and Grant, and a secondary romance (which is not only more compelling, but also remains unresolved until book #3 in the series) between James, Duke of Marchford, and Miss Penelope Rose his grandmother's companion. There is also a third romance between Genie's cousin, Louisa (James's betrothed) and the family physician. Confused yet?!

Lets add in the street urchin, the French spy and the Dowager Duchess who seeks to supplement her allowance by opening ... a matchmaking service. It sounds like some sort of bad bar joke, doesn't it?

To top it all off, the writing is stiff and monotonous, the descriptions excessively detailed and the dialogue adds nothing to either characterization or plot development. I'll not even bother with the characters, most of whom are stereotypical and unappealing.

All in all, the only thing the story has going for it besides the rather likable Penelope, is the fact that it is free for Kindle.

[SOS Aloha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now every field is clothed with grass, and every tree with leaves; now the woods put forth their blossoms, and the year assumes its gay attire. – Virgil

Springtime brings the privileged families back to Regency London, putting forth their beloved blossoms – the yearly crop of debutantes. Miss Eugenia Talbot’s debut is too gay when she giggles in front of the queen. Her aunt is horrified and seeks to marry off Eugenia as quick as possible. Eugenia meets a bevy of suiters … but only has eyes for the man who made her giggle – William Grant. But it is not just love that blossoms as Eugenia becomes a pawn of a traitor. Forester delivers a deightful Regency romp with a touch of humor, passion, and mystery. A WEDDING IN SPRINGTIME is wrapped in the pomp and pagentry that historical fans will enjoy with the loveable cast of characters.

I received an ARC from the publisher for an honest review.

[Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted at: http://www.longandshortreviews.com/bo...

If ever a blurb was misleading then the little snippet for A Wedding in Springtime is totally off base. This story isn’t all fluff and boring internal angst between the classes and a man overcome by a lady’s charms. Not by a long shot. This book has intrigue, action, mystery, betrayal, twisted intentions, and a love scene that was totally not what a person expected. This tale started off so innocently and slowly built with starts and stops, but that was only a ploy to lull a reader into thinking that this was going to be an historical romance like all the rest. Ms. Forester wove a tale that embraced humor, women with spunk and men who are unwittingly at their mercy. In short, it was a blast to read.

This novel is also busy with a lot of story threads that work through the main story arc and which involves many secondary characters. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that there were more than just Genie and William on center stage. Some of the supporting cast were just as integral and strong in presence as if they too were the focus of the story. It is because their lives are so intertwined that it’s hard to think of only the hero and heroine. Even with stating this, the author should be commended for her strength of writing. Every time someone else was on stage, it benefited the plot movement that swirled around William, a/k/a Grant, and Genie. Everything they did and said had a domino effect that propelled the main protagonists to discover important things about each other, to make certain choices that ultimately lead them to a romance reader’s ultimate goal – the happily ever after. To that end, the author was wildly successful if unconventional.

Eugenia a/k/a Genie starts off in a pickle. The man who sealed her doom eventually becomes her salvation. Before that can happen, however, I was treated to a young woman who has an adventure beyond anything she could have imagined. She is faced with difficult choices, some fun, some heartfelt, and others that showcased what a wonderful, caring and ingenious woman she could be. There was one scene that made me think of her as a cross between Mary Poppins and Dirty Harry – sweet but don’t mess with her or she’s going to make you pay. I didn’t expect that and didn’t know she had it in her. It was awesome.

Grant was a typical rogue and confirmed bachelor. Many an historical romance features a man filled with ennui and it takes an ‘original’ to bring him to life and lust to the point he rethinks his aversion to marriage. Fans of Regency romances will find that is true for the hero in this book as well. Unlike other rogues, he’s not a bad sort at all. In fact, Grant is charming, suave, happy-go-lucky and in his estimation, delightfully clueless about things regarding estates. It’s said that a good woman makes a good man better. That is how I saw the hero. He was good but everything that transpired during the course of this tale made him grow as a person, a man and a son. If asked, I’d say the most dramatic element of the book was seeing Grant go from frivolous male to an aware, decisive and proactive man, willing to do what needs to be done to do the right thing. His inspiration was Genie and his proposal was as original and spectacular as could be. He was a terrific hero.

As for secondary characters, this book was flush. I enjoyed getting to meet every single one, everyone that is, except the villain. I suspected who the cur was but I never anticipated the nasty nature that the bounder hid. In fact, I strongly and completely suspect that all is not wrapped up in a neat and tidy bow. There was someone else I didn’t trust and I was taken aback when it didn’t turn out the way I thought it should. I could have sworn that he was in collusion but I am supposedly proved wrong. I’m going with my gut feeling. You see, the Duke of Marchford and Penelope, the companion to the dowager duchess, have this buzz thing zinging between them. They don’t recognize what’s going on but as a fan of all things romantic, I believe I saw a sequel starting to bloom and when Ms. Forester does write James’ story, which I implore her to do, I fully expect to have my suspicions confirmed. To that end, I firmly and loudly state that Ms. Forester’s next book is going to be an auto-buy for me. The people she has introduced me to during the telling of this tale have completely enchanted me. I also want to know what becomes of the quick-fingered Jem.

A Wedding in Springtime is simply delightful with storytelling filled with charm, heart and a good dose of addictive fun. I never knew what kind of ploy Genie would come up with, when the next twist of the plot would occur or what would make Grant swallow that lump in his throat and get around to proposing. The external conflict kept the pages turning and the well rounded characters kept me engaged. This might have been the first book written by Ms. Forester that I’ve read, but it won’t be the last. I liked her writing style and if this is what I can expect, I expect to be a happy reader. I encourage other readers to give this book a whirl and discover what made me like Genie and Grant so much.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lucky find! I say this because as I recall I picked this up since it was on sale in the Kindle store. One of the better Regency romances I've read in a long while.

French spies, "good" rakes that get trapped, arranged marriages un-arranged, debts of honor, and some nice salacious intrigue.

One of my favorite parts is where the heroine describes how seduction is laid out in gothic novels. LOL!

[Yankeecountess · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first thing you should know about this book is that it begins with a fart joke.

...I'm not kidding. Now you're either going to fall into two camps: one, you're laughing hysterically at this, or two, you're making a face and turning your nose up. If you're of the latter camp, stick with me, because this actually was a nice little romance, quite humorous, and looks to be a promising series.

**toot, toot, a few minor spoilers**

Our story begins with Miss Eugenia Talbot at the beginning of her London Season making a "grave mistake"--she dared to laugh in front of the Queen during her presentation when the Lord Chamberlain let out a certain "toot".

To be fair, Eugenia (Genie) wasn't the only one; Mr. William Grant, a charming rogue also laughed, but because he's a) a man, and b) wasn't standing directly in front of the Queen when it happened, he gets away with it, whereas Genie is all but declared "damaged goods" by the gossip hounds. Her aunt, who is sponsoring her, is humiliated, and sees the only solution to saving her reputation (and Genie's) is getting Genie engaged ASAP. So Genie's aunt turns to the Dowager Duchess of Marchford, an old "friend" (as well as the grandmother to her daughter's fiance) to help with the matter.

A Wedding in Springtime is the first book in the Marriage Mart series, so we're introduced to several characters, people who will pop up and feature in the later books, although two of those characters played rather prominent roles in this book, which I confess was a *bit* distracting, but for the sake of the series, it made sense to meet all these other characters. One of those characters is Miss Penelope Rose, whom the Dowager Duchess hires as her companion. Penelope has a knack for gaining information about the Ton's most eligible bachelors, so with her help, the Dowager Duchess devises a plan that they will find Genie a husband (for a rather exorbitant fee). Poor Genie would much rather just return home to the country, but she's a responsible girl and knows it's her "duty" to make a good match. Yet the only man who will willingly speak to her (without the Dowager Duchess forcing them into a conversation) is none other than Mr. Grant, the same man who shared an inappropriate laugh with Genie.

William is meant to be a rake, but he's more charm than rogue, and it's plain to see that he likes Genie pretty much from the get-go. He flirts and teases, but he never puts Genie into a compromising position, though they are clearly attracted to each other, so when they do kiss, it feels both right and natural. He's an interesting hybrid of alpha and beta hero, a man with a reputation, but also the kind of man that marriage-minded mamas would push their daughters at. William, like so many historical romance heroes, wants to avoid marriage, and yet he's drawn to Genie, charmed by her, and soon finds himself doing anything and everything to be a "hero" in her eyes, from helping her play matchmaker between his best friend and her cousin, to saving a street urchin from prison and taking the child into his home. He even *gasp* shows an INTEREST in the estate he'll one day inherit, after listening to Genie talk about how much she misses the country, and how one of her favorite things to do was visit the tenants.

I really liked Genie and William's moments together, it was clear they were meant to be together, and frustrating that no one else around them seemed to realize that the answer to Genie's "problem" was standing right before them in hessian boots. The reason I'm only giving this book 3 stars is that while I did like it, there were some issues, mainly in terms of the side characters playing a MUCH BIGGER ROLE than what is typical for side-characters to do. It would be one thing if this were a stand-alone book, but seeing as to how these characters will be getting their own book later in the series, it felt somewhat unnecessary to me. There was a good mystery plot taking place in the background that both William and Genie found themselves wrapped up in (and which I'm assuming will be brought up again as the series continues), but there is a point near the end of the book (tied into the mystery) where we have CLASSIC "miscommunication" and I honestly wanted to ram my head into a wall.

But all in all, A Wedding in Springtime is a cute read and Forester's Marriage Mart series is worth checking out.

[Farrah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet book. Wedding in Springtime was such a cute romance. I didn't love it, but I definitely liked it.

Eugenia was an okay heroine, though she came off as weak sometimes. She was indecisive and needed to show more backbone. And she was forgettable as a character. But, she was still likable. So, I didn't have a huge problem with her.

William was much more fun. He was adorable. He was a very lively character and he made things so much more interesting whenever he was in a scene. But he was also a sweet man who felt deeply, with both good feelings and bad. When he was in love, it was all-consuming and, when his heart broke, my heart ached for him. He was a great character, a wonderful hero.

The romance in this book was mostly sweet, with the exception of one light scene. Eugenia and Will were cute together and their relationship developed realistically. I truly felt their love for each other.

The plot was okay, but it was became slow in a few places. I thought that there were too pointless obstacles added to the plot. Most of them didn't seem necessary to include. But, I was still kept interested the entire way through. The ending was perfectly sweet.

Wedding in Springtime was a good read. I didn't love it, but I did like it. It was very sweet. If you want a nice, light, sweet read-this is your book.

*Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for a copy!

[Sofia Currin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've never read this author before and while not thoroughly impressed with her I definitely like her and would like to read more of her. Again, I'm not really one of the debutant romance novels but I did enjoy this one but that may be because of all of the other interesting characters, hence the wish to read her other books.

[Blodeuedd Finland]

Another book I was reading and reading, and realised I had no idea what was going on

[Rachel T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Posted on The Reading Cafe 30 Apr 13

5 out of 5 for this reader folks!

WELCOME to London England 1810 where manners and the way one carry themselves and/or places oneself in a public position could determine whether one is ruined or successful. Welcome to the regency romance genre!

"Ten minutes into her societal debut, Eugenia Talbot was ruined."

I do love a book that begins with a good ruining don't you?? LOL

A Wedding in Springtime by author Amanda Forester was CREATIVE and a multi-layered read! This author had so many sub-plots circling around the main plot that I feared at first it was going to get confusing and take away from the main story! Let me tell you something .. Amanda Forester has a talent for knitting all these sub-stories together to make the main story that much more exciting! I have read many historical romances and most follow a simple formula. Amanda Forester has completely ignored this formula and walked down a different path! It made her book stand out and I often was wondering if I was reading a romance or a mystery! In my opinion .... BOTH! :)

Our main character is Eugenia Talbot. Genie is the product of a scandal when her mother ran away from her privileged life and married a commoner. Now it is up to Genie to salvage the family name (she has been hosted by her stuck up aunt) and enter society as a respectable lady! Well about 5 minutes into her debut she loses her sense of "respectability" by laughing at the wrong moment in front of the wrong person. I tell you I was chuckling right from the start as her reason for ruin is HILARIOUS!

A large factor of her ruined societal debut has to do with a "good rake" (there is a full explanation of a good vs bad rake in this book ..lol) who encourages this laughter and adds to Genie's demise. Mr William Grant. Grant is a devilishly handsome young man who embraces all the riches and indulgences of life and refuses to ever consider the sanctity of marriage. He would much rather frolic through his stages of life carefree and he ensures that this is common knowledge among the ton.

To ensure that Genie does in fact become married soonest to salvage what little reputation she has left, her stuck up aunt covets the advice of a dowager duchess (one who's grandson just so happens to be betrothed to her daughter) and so begins the search for a proper suitor. During all this, a friendship and strong attraction is developing between Genie and Grant. I will not elaborate from there as I do not want to provide any major spoilers!

With the backdrop of Napoleon warring with England, many secrets, letters, codes and villians revealed, romances and the typical gossip of the ton, this story is a page turner. The cast of characters (believe me there are so many that I could go on and on) are so interesting that you cannot wait for more and hope that in the next book you get to meet them again. The wit and banter that Amanda Forester uses in conversation between her characters had me laughing out loud. The mystery and suspense she tangles in with the romance was like a cherry on a sundae!

I am so looking forward to her next book! :)

ARC from Netgallery was provided for an honest review.

[Lily (Night Owl Book Cafe) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for review from SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca through Netgalley, in exchanged on an honest review.

Miss Eugenia Talbot has greatly embarrassed herself in front of a queen when she couldn't control her laughter – thanks to the handsome William Grant. Now her presentation in front of the Queen is not the only thing that is ruined, but her reputation went down in flames with it. Genie must marry at once, someone or anyone that will have her.

Oh gosh, what a romantic book. I found myself truly engrossed with A Wedding In Springtime, the first book in the Marriage Mart series. I fell in love with William Grant, Genie, and the rest of the supporting characters that I feel will get the story of their own.

William Grant is a roughish rake who has not been contemplating the idea of marriage until Genie Talbot enters his life and makes him trip over his own feet by doing things he never had before. The last thing Grant wants to do is help Genie find her a house. Not when the blonde beauty had somehow managed to imprint herself in his life and heart.

I had a blast with this one! It left me giggling and happy and full of warm and tingly feelings. Every time William would just show up to the occasions that Genie was forced to, I couldn't help but feel giddy. I really loved those two. Love their interactions, their encounters and the think air of attraction between them. There where even heart clenching moments that left me feeling sorry for the both of them. Grant cannot help the pull Genie has on him, which only keeps him coming back to her, unable to hide the attraction.

So while Grant is doing the best he could to help Genie fit right back into the society. A document is stolen that might reveal a few important names and cost those peoples lives. With the code now in the Duke of Marchford's hands, the mystery really brings life to the story and picks up the pace to the point where I was having a hard time putting the book down! It was fun and exciting.

There where plenty of moments that I found endearing and made me laugh. Especially when Grant picked up a street urchin, Jem simply because Genie wanted to find the child a home and someone that would take them in. The incidents that occurred had me in a fit of giggled.

I really liked some of the other characters, especially the Duke of Marchford and Penelope. I enjoyed the way the two behave around each other. Penelope is bold, so she isn't really accepted into the society and had a hard time finding herself a husband. Now she is one of the last sisters unable to find herself the perfect match. She stands up to Marchford and isn't put out by the fact that he is a Duke. I think it's a quality he finds entertaining. Oh gosh! I really hope these two will end up together in their own books. I absolutely love them! The way the book ended, I had high hopes that was where it was going in the second book. Unfortunately it will not be about the Duke of Marchford, but I will enjoy picking that one up as well!

[Kathie (katmom) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Available now!

A Wedding in Springtime (Marriage Mart #1) by Amanda Forester was a sweet story with many threads. That cover is so pretty!

To begin with, Miss Eugenia Talbot is being presented to the Queen. Unfortunately the man announcing her has some, um, tummy issues that cause a giggle to try and escape the debutante's mouth. She almost gets it under control when William Grant laughs and gives her a wink. That giggle becomes a laugh and Miss Talbot's debut is now ruined.

Miss Talbot's aunt seeks the help of a matchmaker to get a betrothal set. She feels that's the only way to save her honor, not her niece's, but hers. Yes, she's not that wonderful of a person. Certainly Mr. Grant is NOT on the list of husband material that the matchmaker lists.

There are several subplots here: A young woman who doesn't want to marry her betrothed; A matchmaker who has fallen into the job; a Duchess who will NOT be removed from London; an urchin who is more than he seems; a letter that a spy is most anxious to get his hands on; bachelors who refuse to marry; and young women who really want to marry.

Yes, many threads here, and while I got confused a time or two, Ms. Forester pulls them together quite nicely.

This is book one in the Marriage Mart series, and I look forward to seeing which bachelor will be the next to fall in love. I sincerely hope Miss Penelope Rose is the next to find her heart's desire.

This one was full of fun. I can see reading it again.



*Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca, for the opportunity to read A Wedding in Springtime.

This review may also be found at:
Beyond the Squee: Book Reviews
www.beyondthesquee.com

[Jack Vasen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful but often suspenseful story. There are few if any dull moments. The cast of major characters is large but not oppressively so. The spy mystery is skillfully woven with the romance. There are actually two couples although one doesn't become clear until later on. There are schemes and counter-schemes. There are clues and false clues.

The premise is unique to my knowledge. Genie laughs hilariously during her presentation to the Queen and spends the rest of the book trying to repair her reputation. Genie is an outspoken woman but has a soft side too. We are told that Grant is a rake. A little further on, we learn that he is the good kind because he doesn't break the hearts of debutantes. Penelope is another interesting character. She is very intelligent and quick on her feet. It occurred to me that she could make an excellent spy, although there doesn't seem to be any hint that she is, but you always wonder.

The writing is witty. The author comes up with some well crafted phrases like "Despite her best efforts, his careless words of endearment curled up warm and happy in her chest, making themselves at home." I was very pleased that this author did not beat a dead horse by having the characters repeatedly lament how impossible their love was. It was mentioned but not overdone.

Interestingly, the book I read immediately prior to this was Arabella by Georgette Heyer. It is totally coincidence that I picked this up next. There are several parallels not the least of which is the country-born heroine being brought out by someone other than her mother and her brother just happens to show up on leave from school ready to sow wild oats. There are other parallels, but even so, this story obviously diverges in major points.

Mature themes: there is really nothing serious. Some heads are bashed and at least one death, but quietly done. There is sex, but it about as mildly explicit as could be done without avoiding it altogether.

[mer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

I did enjoy this book only that I didn't enjoy it immensely. The story is a bit dull although sometimes, sweet.

Even though with the emphasis on hero, William Grand and heroine, Eugenia Talbot, this book has many characters that somehow are very important. These characters are connected to each other. Said connection is VITAL because it formed a story.

I had to remember a lot of names too and it was a tedious thing to do. Truly.

The moment I saw the book title and the series title, I thought it was going to be a love story with overwhelming, sizzling, passionate romance. I was anticipated and expecting that. Sadly, the story focused less on romance but instead, it is mostly focused on mystery and adventure. Not that I'm complaining, in fact, I quite liked it! It's just the story doesn't sync with the book, series title AT ALL.

I would put out this book if it weren't for William Grant. I liked him so much. He is a notorious rake but a good one. He isn't like any other typical rake who loves brooding. This one, however, is a very charming and has a good sense of humour. The problem with other characters is that they are all simply plain to me. In my humble opinion, their personalities need to be more enhanced.

I will continue with this series BUT I might have second thoughts if I was misled, again.

Read on your own peril.

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amanda Forester writes so well and I was captivated from the first page until the very last. A truly delightful story full of humor, amazing characters, and has a pretty good plot. I did find the story line to be slow in some places but nothing extreme.

The main characters are Eugenia & William. They are riveting and I love how Ms. Forester lets them get to know each other & then fall in love slowly instead of like traditional romance novels where they are just thrown together and and are in love by the next page.

I read a lot of this genre and this was a another good love story. I believe that anyone who loves historical romance will like this book. It’s got it all -- action, suspense, romance, mystery-- and the secondary characters are wonderful as well. I almost thought there was going to be two romances in this story. ;) There are several parts that made me laugh out loud. Ms. Forester is a truly talented author and I cannot wait to read more from her.

***ARC graciously provided by Sourcebooks Casablanca via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review***

[LaFleurBleue · Rating 4 out of 5]

My expectations were not really high, while starting this book which I got for free.
In fact it turned out to be a very pleasant and entertaining surprise. The overall tone is light-hearted, though not bordering on silly; it might seem a bit too actual, but I have not noticed any major anachronisms or behaviors which would absolutely not make sense. The characters development and inner conflicts and reasoning remain quite secondary in this book to several adventures intertwined together with a few threads thrown here and there to confuse the reader at first. I enjoyed the plot, I preferred the secondary characters to the leads, especially Penelope and the Duke, whose story I might well read, though I am still not sure whether I'll also read the second book in this series.
Well worth a try.
3.5 stars

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Never did enjoy the characters and wasn't overly fond of the hero or the way God sprung up right before sex.

...And not in a cool way.

Seriously, though. The more I think about this, the more it angers me. Hero, madly in love with heroine and too stupid to deal with it, gets drunk, then rather than offering marriage -- which is what he thinks about -- he asks her to be his... mistress.

If that wasn't bad enough, she ends up going to his house -- where he's even drunker than the last time she saw him -- to accept his offer because she's trying to save her brother. Despite being piss drunk (seriously, how did he get it up still?), they have sex -- her first time -- and the next morning... HE REMEMBERS NOTHING.

I just... no. I don't like that..

[Debra Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for giving me an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.Full review closer to release date.

[Kara-karina]

DNF. Nope, the writing style is not my cup of tea at all.

[jay]

- A rake is immediately reformed by the pretty face of a debutante...
- ...that he supposedly "ruined", though, honestly, it was a wink. She was already laughing
- Oh no, you're a rake and everyone tells me to stay away from you. Let me just spend all my free time with you anyway
- Suddenly there are like a million characters, all who seem to have equal billing for some reason
- Three couples - tell me you're setting up a series without telling me you're setting up a series 👀
- Let's just take this random woman who berated my grandson as my companion to live in my house
- What's with the duke's grandmother starting a business with Pen's info, especially without informing her beforehand? And the nerve of offering 10% to Pen
- The man from the government seems absolutely shady and is horribly incompetent with people
- The way he approached Pen was so obvious and slimy. Good on Pen for immediately calling him out in front of the duke
- Genie's brother is an idiot. He lost the equivalent of 1.2 million pounds in one night of gambling? How do you not clarify HUNDREDS vs THOUSANDS? (Not that it would be that much better then)
- Excellent job running to your (younger?) sister to try to save your ass, instead of going to your father, who would probably kick your ass (but you definitely deserve it)
- I think we're supposed to think that Genie is a very caring sister or some shit, but cleaning up your idiot brother's mistakes won't help him learn
- Did you actually think that your potential fiancé was just going to forgive THAT MUCH MONEY? How is "he just got confused, he didn't know what he was doing" an excuse?
- Something something emeralds and somehow the ex-fiancé had them? What?
- YOU OFFERED TO MAKE A DEBUTANTE YOUR MISTRESS?
- And you love her after kissing her, like, twice?
- Genie going to a moneylender and being told to steal the intel to save her brother from potentially offing himself in shame was so cringe-worthy. Why is this something she's considering doing? What's the idiot brother doing now?

And somehow that's 70% of the way through. I'm so annoyed that I don't think I can make it through the last 30%. The convoluted plotlines make me tired and confused, not engaged and intrigued.

(The last annoying couple (Pen + the duke) is apparently like Book 3 of the series. Ugh. TL;DR.)

PS-Skipped ahead to see if the "main" couple even end up together and she basically sells her body/virginity to him for money? While he's drunk? Is she an idiot? My money's on him being like WTF WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY ROOM the next morning

And are we supposed to like, look past that she took advantage of a drunk man? wtf am I reading?

PPS-Of course he was blackout drunk, and she expected him to remember everything? I don't know who is more frustrating

Final quote:

> Men were wretched. Brothers, however, still needed to be tended. Especially George, who was still only a child in a grown body. He must be protected so he could grow to improve the lot of mankind. Surely he would never treat a lady in such a manner.

Oh you sweet summer child.

[JoAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Wedding in Springtime is the first book in the Marriage Mart series as well as the first book I've read by Ms. Forester who normally writes books set in the Highlands. It held my interest from the first page to the last and there was a lot of story packed in. The characters all had a depth to them and we get to know them a little at a time.

Genie is in London so that she can make a match and get off her aunt and uncle's hands or she'll have to return to her family in the country. Her aunt and uncle are putting up the dowry and at this point her aunt is willing to do whatever she has to especially after Genie laughs while meeting the Queen. Mr. Grant helped cause her downfall and while there's an attraction between them he never plans to marry and he's known as a rake so he wouldn't do at all, or would he? Her cousin has her own secrets even though she's betrothed to a duke. The duke is willing to do his duty but his grandmother might have to pay the price if he does marry. His grandmother's new companion, Penelope, is a delight and will remain a spinster after the last of her sisters married after making a good match, or will she?

There are many underlying stories and they are woven throughout nicely. Every bit of information plays a part in the telling of the story. There are surprises along the way as well as secrets and some cloak and dagger intrigue. The story wraps up nicely with an unexpected twist and a happily ever after that we always expect. I look forward to reading the rest of this series and reunite with characters we've met here in book one! There are more eligible bachelors and a spinster who may need to be married off. The cover is lovely.

[CC · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this romance, although it had quite a few problems. After writing down all my thoughts I’m surprised I enjoyed this book as much as I did, but yep, I still found it an entertaining read. Here are my thoughts:

There was a very dark plot simmering underneath the romance, which I was surprised and rather taken aback by. I feel like it was too much of a contrast to the romantic, society parts of the story. Kind of jarring going from one to the other, and just very unpleasant scenes, not what I was looking for in a romance novel.

However, I liked the classic bad boy finally falls for the girl storyline. Very sweet.
One thing I was extremely displeased about was that Genie and Grant have sex (Genie’s first time) when Grant is totally drunk. He doesn’t remember a thing from that entire night. While I was reading it I just kept thinking, no, no, no! Please don’t do that! But then they did. 😔 Huge disappointment.

I liked that there was an obvious (maybe too obvious) set up for another romance and book about two of the characters in this book, and I want to read that one, hopefully it won’t be so dark.

One other random thing: there are a few mentions of religion and god sprinkled throughout the book, however I felt unconvinced about Genie’s true dedication to religion. It seemed like a character trait that was thrown in at the last minute and didn’t quite fit with the story and the character.

[Dianne Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story and characters. Genie comes to London to be presented at court, but laughs in front of the queen and embarrasses herself and her aunt, her sponsor. She is ruined and the only thing to do is marry her off quickly. Her cousin is betrothed to the Duke of Marchford, a spy for the British. Louisa, Genie’s cousin, in the meantime falls in love with someone else. Genie falls for William Grant who has vowed never to marry. Then there is a French spy trying to get a letter from the Duke’s safe. Genie’s brother gambles with someone who takes him in and causes him to lose a large amount of money. How will he get out of debt? Can Genie marry someone else knowing she loves Mr. Grant?

[Carla · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really don't get the whole concept of Christian romances and didn't realize that this was one of them until I was already half way through. It started out promising and had fun characters and lots of banter so I continued reading but am sorry that I did. The end was just silly, with a prayer and a few mentions of God thrown in but lacking the romantic tension that I seek in a good romance. It really fell flat and I was sorry to have invested the time. Warning there is drunk (nonconsensual) intimacy.

[Shilo Quetchenbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a delightful romp. Thankfully lacking in all the awkward sex euphemisms (where romance writers tend to go wrong, in my opinion) and written in a tongue-in-cheek way that kept me smiling as it poked fun at regency romance whilst setting up a romantic comedy (heavy on the comedy) similar in spirit to Shakespeare's comedies, with everyone engaged to be married to the wrong people, all hopelessly tangled in the plot.

[Holley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the author's voice and enjoyed the book, but there are a few character issues that are a little far fetched and could cause some readers problems. I was also predisposed to like a book that starts with not just a fart joke but a whole skit that would have right been at home on the Carol Burnett show. I will definitely read more by the author

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t normally find myself so pulled into romance novels anymore. I’ve read so many that the plots and characters have to be truly special to stand out. But this book was fun. I was staying up way too late to find out what happens next and that hasn’t happened in awhile. I can’t point to any one single thing that made it such a great read.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series. All the characters are great but one couple stands out even though the main characters are Genie and Mr. Grant. Even though he has sworn off marriage, you love that he can't stay away from Genie

[Sandra Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Wedding in Springtime (Marriage Mart Book 1)

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. A good plot and believable characters. I couldn't put it down until I finished it!